The
Lenovo Yoga 11S is quite versatile, we admit the clue was in the name. It's
extremely portable and its solid hinge quickly turns it into a slate for
browsing the web from the sofa or a tablet with kickstand for checking recipes
while you're in the kitchen.
The
Intel Core i7 processor and solid state drive ensure a quick and responsive
Windows 8, but we'd have liked Lenovo to include the latest generation of Core
i7, Haswell, for preference. We also can't understand why at least one USB 3.0
port wasn't included.
You
can easily tuck this system into a carry bag and aside from more than casual
gaming, it'll bend over backwards (sic) to do most things you'd ask of it. Very
versatile and worth considering.
10. Microsoft Surface Pro 2
First,
lets not get confused about which Surface this is. The Surface Pro 2 is actually packing
closer to laptop specs. It comes with the full Windows 8.1 OS and not the
'optimised' Windows 8.1 RT that limits you to Windows Store apps. It's also
powered by the latest generation of Intel Core i5 processor and not a Tegra 4,
which you'd normally associate with smartphones and tablets.
In
fact, the main selling point of the Surface Pro 2 is that it has improved across the
board: from a more vibrant display and better performance and graphics to seven
hours of battery life. With these increases, the Surface Pro 2 does find itself
sitting in an awkward halfway house between laptop and tablet, particularly as
its gained weight and chunkiness that doesn't compare favourably with other
tablets. It's also still expensive at £719 without the keyboard.
In
design terms, the Surface Pro 2 is a celebration of what Microsoft can do when
it's cornered and needs to come out fighting, and it's a form factor that may
just fit your needs perfectly and with no small amount of style.
11. Asus Transformer Book TX300
Asus
sees this 13-inch model as a showcase for what the company can achieve in
design and performance terms, and there's a lot to like about this stylish
brushed aluminium hybrid.
True
to it's name this powerful laptop can be turned into a tablet quickly by
unclipping the keyboard.
Although
it's Intel Core i7 (3rd gen, not Haswell) and 4GB RAM offer a snappy Windows 8,
this isn't where the TX300 stands out. It's features like the lush screen which
supports full HD playback, the dual batteries (in base and tablet) and
dual-storage of a 500GB drive and 128GB SSD respectively, which distinguish it
from the crowd.
There
are few caveats, no HDMI, for instance, only USB 3.0 ports on the keyboard but
not on screen and the fact it weighs 2kg. That weight also doesn't reflect that
it's a graphics gaming powerhouse and battery life isn't sparkling at around 5
hours, but then you are getting a gorgeous screen for your movies.
The
Asus Transformer Book TX300 may not beat an iPad or a Apple MacBook Pro but it may well be the most
comfortable compromise between laptop and tablet that we've seen.
12. HP EliteBook 820 G1
If
thin is your only form of beauty then look away now. The HP's EliteBook 820 G1
is a solidly built, well-specified and powerful laptop.
When
we say solid, we mean in a 'throw it around a warzone' way as it meets military
specifications. And when we mean well specified, the G1 has, for instance, the
latest generation of Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and up to 1TB of
storage. The integrated graphics isn't up to intensive gaming, but productivity
is the priority here, as reflected in the firm but comfortable isolation
keyboard.
Battery
life is reasonable, in general use it achieved five hours, but this could be
improved by slotting in a bigger battery thanks to the tool-free access to the
internals. It's straightforward approach doesn't have space for a touchscreen
either, which is unlikely to be a missed feature as it has an excellent
trackpad with twin sets of buttons.
Overall,
this is straight-shooting, good value laptop that will take a fair few knocks
on the road and keep on rolling.
Read More
13. Fujitsu Lifebook E743
Fujitsu
has chosen the modular route for the Lifebook series. The 14-incher has a bay
on the left that enables you to swap modules out for different uses: Need a
Blu-ray writer? Slot it in. Running out of power? Then grab a second battery
module, and if you make a lot of presentations, it has a handy LED projector
module too. We'd call this the Swiss Army knife of laptops, except we wouldn't
recommend trying to open a tin of beans with one.
The E743 has an Ivy Bridge Intel Core i5 processor, which means
it loses out on the battery boost the latest Haswell chips offer, but it does
offer adequate integrated graphics for the business user. Connectivity is well
taken care of, particularly when it's connected to the supplied dock.
We found its battery life adequate, around 4 hours in a working
day, but a little heavy at 1.9kg. The lack of juice could be resolved with a
second battery module, however.
This is a very versatile business laptop though and a not too
shabby looking system either, with its smooth metallic finish and red trim
around the keyboard.
Read More
14. Toshiba Satellite P70
Here's
another 'bigger boned' high-end laptop powered by a top-end Haswell Intel Core
i7-4700MQ processor - and it's a fast machine.
It's not the most stylish number, however, with a top and bottom
of brushed aluminium and the rest being a cheap-looking plastic. The visible
seals around the edges aren't that appealing either, but it does offer a
stunning screen, a whopping 2TB of storage, discrete graphics and a Blu-ray
writer.
Where the Toshiba falls over is battery life - a mere 77 minutes
chains it firmly to a desk. That compromise may be satisfactory for many who
want a powerful portable-type machine with a vivid 1920 x 1080 screen and
speakers, but it doesn't excuse the choice of Nvidia's mid-range discrete graphics,
which delivers more than integrated GPUs but not much more if you're after a
true desktop replacement.
15. Samsung Series 7 Ultra
The
slim and sharp exterior of the Samsung Series 7 Ultra screams quality, and
that's echoed in the premium internals as well. The Ultra is powered by a Core
i5, which is to be welcomed, but one of its standout features is the AMD Radeon
HD 8500M graphics chip, which gives the Samsung some real graphical clout,
while aiding the Full HD display in providing a pin-sharp viewing experience.
The
overall package is pulled down slightly by its weight. At 1.6kg it's not as
portable as others in its price range, and the small 128GB SSD isn't enough if
you intend this to be your main computer.
The whole Series 7
Ultra experience is stylish and the performance is nippy nonetheless. If a
quality screen is a priority and you need a little more graphical punch from
your portable this is worth a spin
Read More
16. Dell XPS 13
The
XPS 13 is Dell's answer to the MacBook Air, but has a more compact rather than
thinner and lighter design than its rival.
Due
to it's Core i7 processors, decent amount of memory and SSD storage, the XPS 13
will handle whatever tasks you wish to throw at it outside of power gaming, but
for not as long as we'd hoped. The battery lasts for around four hours, which
isn't even half as long as the battery on the MacBook Air.
If
you're after a 1080p viewing experience on a portable this is a crowd-pleaser
too - it's 1,920 x 1080 touchscreen is fantastically sharp. But there are few
caveats, most notably the lack of an SD card reader. But all told, this is a
capable and desirable, luxury laptop that will turn heads in your local coffee
shop.
17. 13-inch MacBook Air
This
is the sixth generation of the MacBook Air, and although its regal position in
the ultraportable world may not be on the wane yet, it did take a few tiny
missteps this time.
Apple's
decision to pony up for the latest gen, Haswell processor isn't one of them,
although opting for the lesser Core i5 is. We would have preferred the faster
Core i7, especially at this price, and the performance results aren't better
across the board, as they should be, because of it. We note that the Core i5
chip does offer better integrated Intel HD Graphics than the previous MacBook
Air though, offering a 40% boost to graphics performance.
But
it's the battery life that astounds - 10 hours of movie playback and 12 in
general use - incredible results. And we mustn't fail to mention the Wi-Fi
support for the ac standard.
The
13-inch MacBook Air is still working its winning ways. It's still an oh-so very
light and portable laptop with a responsive multi-touch trackpad and backlit
keyboard, and everyone will love its staying power on a single charge.
18. Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus
The
13.3-inch ATIV Book 9 is on the business end of Samsung's Ultrabooks, which
means performance and staying power are a crucial part of its sell.
Fortunately, as well as being highly portable it also manages a solid nine
hours of battery life.
That's
quite a remarkable feature in its own right but when married with it's
near-silent operation and a screen that has a native resolution of 3,200 x
1,800, it becomes an astonishing spec. Unfortunately, as our reviewer noted
it's not entirely practical. The default desktop icons were tiny at this
resolution. Note this should be resolved in Windows 8.1 as the DPI is automatically set and
icons will look their normal size. As our reviewer noted though, it's likely
you'll drop the screen down to 1080p, especially as this is the norm for
watching films. This means that unless you particularly like the fact that the
chassis can be laid flat for some tabletop touchscreen brainstorming with
colleagues, the screen's full resolution becomes more of a bragging point.
We
found the overall look and feel of the ATIV to be excellent, particularly the
touchscreen and multi-touch trackpad, and it has all the connectivity you'll
need for business purposes, including Ethernet.
19. MacBook Pro 15-inch
The
Pro edition means, of course, a Retina display. That's a native resolution of
2,880 x 1,800, and while the basic form of the MacBook Pro is unchanged, there's been a lot
removed and upgraded internally.
As
with the MacBook Air, the Pro has moved to a Haswell processor for the added
battery performance. The optical drive has also been dropped completely and the
hard drive has been switched for an SSD. These changes amount to Apple being
able to shave the laptop down to a thickness of 18mm in pursuit of even greater
sleekness. FireWire has also been replaced by two much faster Thunderbolt
ports.
As
you might expect, the main gripe with the MacBook Pro, even with the most
fantastic of screens, is the price. This is especially noticeable when compared
with its own lesser siblings. But for professionals, such as graphic designers
and video editors. it's still an excellent solution and the battery life is
even better than before.
20. Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga
The
Yoga series from Lenovo are capable and stylish hybrids, but in this setting
they can also be accomplished business ultrabooks too.
Snappy
performance is guaranteed with a Core i3 (Haswell) processor, 4GB of RAM and an
SDD (albeit a small one at 128GB). The ThinkPad Yoga will have no trouble
dealing with complicated spreadsheets or the kind of productivity tasks
required at work.
And
while it's versatility may not be necessary for some business settings, the
fact it has a sturdy hinge means you can flip it over into a tablet when needed
or just stand it up for useful reference during a meeting.
Where
the Yoga's performance gets all bent of shape is in its battery life, which
amounts to only 3 hours. Some of that result is likely sucked away by the Full
HD (1,920 x 1,080) 12.5-inch touchscreen. The storage is a little sparse too,
most business users will need more than 128GB of SSD for all their
presentations, docs and spreadsheets.
The
ThinkPad Yoga maybe a step too far removed from the original business-class
ThinkPads, but its stylish and could do well, particularly as a commuting
sidekick.
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